Health News Tidbits

Health News Tidbits – December

Link Found Between Asthma and Obesity in Kids -
According to a new study in Thorax, excess weight may predispose children to the development of asthma. Since 1980, there has been a 160% rise in the number of asthma cases in children. One aspect of the study showed the prevalence of asthma was 73% higher in children with the highest body mass index.

ERT Losing Ground to Cardiovascular Healthcare -
According to study in one of the latest issues of New England Journal of Medicine, estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) does not prevent strokes or reduce the mortality rate in high-risk women. Two such studies now provide strong evidence that ERT, which is currently being prescribed by physicians for women's heart health, is not "good for the heart."

Vitamin C May Help Heart Failure Patients -
According to a new study in Circulation, it appears that vitamin C keeps cells in the blood vessel wall from dying. Vitamin C 's antioxidant properties may prevent damaging forms of reactive oxygen (free radical) that compromises blood vessel wall function, a common symptom of heart failure patients.

Vitamin D May Cut Risk of Type 1 Diabetes -
Babies who received at least 2,000IU of vitamin D daily were nearly 80% less likely to develop type 1 diabetes over the next three decades compared with infants who had lower intakes of the vitamin, according to findings published in the November 3rd issue of the Lancet. Results may differ in countries that get more natural sunlight than Finland, in which this study was performed.

Vitamin's C and E Essential to Diet, According to Harvard Chairman -
Dr. Walter C. Willet, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School states in his book, "Eat, Drink and Be Healthy" that antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are believed to play roles in cancer, heart disease, arthritis, cataract formation, memory loss, and aging just to name a few.

Vitamin C May Shield Against Stomach Cancer -
"Our study suggests that taking a vitamin C supplement on a regular basis may protect against certain types of stomach cancer," said Dr. Susan Mayne of Yale University School of Medicine and the lead investigator of the study. "We found vitamin C supplement users to have a 40% lower risk of cancer in the middle and lower parts of the stomach." The study was published in the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

Survey Finds Americans 50 and Older Deem Dietary Supplements Essential -
The nationwide survey, commissioned by the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA), questioned 736 adults aged 50 or older. Sixty five percent consider supplements essential for people their age. Sixty three percent agreed that food alone may not be enough to satisfy nutritional goals.

Cranberries High in Antioxidants -
Cranberries contain the most antioxidant phenols compared to 19 commonly eaten fruits, according to the November 19 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Lack of Breastfeeding in Infancy Linked to High Blood Pressure as Adult -
Breastfeeding or giving infants and children supplements of a certain type of fatty acid could prevent them from developing hypertension, or high blood pressure in adulthood, according to a recent study in Hypertension. Docosahexaneoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) is believed to be the preventative essential fatty acid. Infants who have a very low incidence of hypertension are breast fed for more than 12 months. DHA and AA are also believed also prevent rhythm abnormalities, type 2 diabetes, and reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Inhaled Steroids Increase Risk of Osteoporosis -
Flovent and Azmacort, are among the names of inhaled steroids which may increase the risk of developing osteoporosis, according to a recent New England Journal of Medicine study. Women who inhaled more than eight puffs a day experienced more bone loss than women consuming four to eight puffs daily, and both groups lost more bone than women who did not take steroids.

Calcium May Increase Prostate Cancer -
An American Journal of Nutrition study found that of 21,000 men who consumed more than 600mg of calcium daily from dairy products had a 32% higher risk of prostate cancer than men who consumed no more than 150mg of calcium daily over 11 years. Each additional daily dose of 500mg of calcium from dairy products was associated with a 16% increase in prostate cancer risk.

Spinach, Blueberry said Brain Food -
Information presented at the Society for Neuroscience revealed rats fed a diet rich in spinach reversed a normal loss of hearing that occurs with age, according to a study by researchers at the University of South Florida. A study by the University of Houston found that blueberries may help fight age-related declines in rats' memories.

Microbial Overgrowth Tied to Metabolic Bone Disease -
Based on World Health Organization criteria, researchers found that 86%-93% with small intestine bacterial overgrowth had significant bone loss near the hip and lower back. The bacteria in question is hydrogen and methane-releasing bacteria. Dig Dis Sci 2001;46(5): 1077-1082

Acupuncture Can Improve Prospects of People With Severe Heart Failure -
Recent research presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association suggested that acupuncture could dramatically reduce the pressure on the heart by reducing activity in the sympathetic nervous system.

Curcumin May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease -
According to a new report in the Journal of Neuroscience, curcumin, a constituent of the spice turmeric, may protect against Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory agent and potent antioxidant, especially for brain tissue. Results done on mice fed a standard diet and low dose curcumin diet showed reduction in two markers of inflammation in the brain. In addition, decrease of oxidative damage and reduced reduction of amyloid has been associated with curcumin. The amount of curcumin that achieved the greatest benefit when fed to mice was equivalent to 1,600mg per day for a person weighing 150 pounds.

Antioxidants Protect Lungs From Ozone Damage -
A study published this week in the American Journal of Respiratory Care and Critical Care Medicine found that the antioxidant combination of vitamin C and carotenoids preserved lung function in individuals subjected to controlled ozone inhalation.

Selenium-Enriched Broccoli May Help Prevent Cancer -
According to a recent laboratory rat study published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a diet containing selenium-enriched broccoli sprouts and florets may protect against breast and prostate cancer. The results showed that the rats fed high-selenium broccoli had lower incidence of mammary tumors at the end of the study and fewer tumors overall that the rats fed low-selenium broccoli or the selenium alone.

B-Vitamins Help Clear Arteries After Angioplasty -
Patients undergoing angioplasty can lower their risk of developing restenosis, narrowing of the arteries, according to the Nov 29th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Restenosis occurred in only 20% of patients taking Folate (1mg), vitamin B12 (400mcg), and vitamin B6 (10mg) compared with nearly 38% of patients who took a placebo.

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